How to become an Anaesthetist

Provides direct medical care to patients requiring general, regional or local anaesthesia for surgical, diagnostic and other procedures, such as prevention of pain and maintenance of body function.

Main tasks

• Performs pre-operative examinations of patients to determine appropriate anaesthetic and sedation in concurrence with Physicians and Surgeons
• Discusses the anaesthetic process and risks with patients, and obtains their informed consent prior to surgery
• Administers local, regional and general anaesthetics using a variety of methods such as inhalational and intravenous administration, and utilises diverse airway management techniques
• Monitors patients throughout surgical procedures and in immediate post-operative procedures
• Records details of anaesthetic and sedation administered, and the condition of patients before, during and after anaesthesia
• Assists in acute pain management of patients
• Liaises with other Health Professionals to provide diagnosis and treatment for patients with chronic pain
• Examines and treats patients requiring intensive care or resuscitation
• Consults with other Health Professionals to optimise patient care and safety
• May instruct medical, nursing, student and multidisciplinary staff on the signs, symptoms and diagnosis of allergic and anaphylactic reactions to anaesthetic agents, and supervision and treatment of life threatening emergencies

Ways in

• University: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 34 universities in Australia
• Licence or registration: Registration or licensing is required.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Typical full-time pay: $431,236 a year
• About 7,100 people work in this job group now, and about 9,400 are projected by 2035. (+33.2%)
• AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

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Questions people ask

How do I become an Anaesthetist?

Ways in include: Medicine & Dentistry degrees.

How much does an Anaesthetist earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $431,236 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is an Anaesthetist a growing career in Australia?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 33% by 2035, from about 7,100 to about 9,400 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Do you need a degree to become an Anaesthetist?

Usually. 97% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of an Anaesthetist?

AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.

Sources

• Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
• Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04

Updated 2026-10-04